Alarm for cartridge-loading machines.



No. 659,724. Patented Oct. I6, I900.

- 0. m. WILLS. ALARM FOR CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINES.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets -Sheet Wtlzcsse Inventaz; ckfl. 12. m. 9M4,

. 159 m v my No. 659,724. Patented Oct. l6, I900.

c. m. w||.|.s ALARM FOR CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINES.

(Application filed Jan. 9. 1900.)

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9 )9 a r O Wi'bzeas'ea; I Dal/6702501.

No. 659,724. Patented Oct. w, I900.

c. m. WILLS. ALARM FOR CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINES.

(Application filed Jim. 9. 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

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' m Witnesses;

' Izzuczaioz, J/K Qhm- Jay UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oAssIUsM; ILLS, OF cLEvELAND,foI-no, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUSTIN CARTRIDGE COMPANY, or SAME PLACE.

ALARM FOR CARTRIDGE-LOADING? MACHINES.

srncmxcnnon forming p... of Letters Patent No. 659,724. time October. 1c, 1900.

Application filed January 9, 1900. Serial No. 832. (No niodelJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASSIUS M. WILLS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, and State of \Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement inAlarms for Cartridge-Loading Machines, of which the following isa specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to devices for making an alarm to indicate thefimproper loading. of shells on the part of shell-loading machines; and it consists of means hereinafter fully described.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a front elevation of a portion of a shell loading machine to which my improved device has been applied, showing the wad-rammer, a shell, and a portion of a shell-carrier in vertical central section. Fig. II represents a transverse vertical cross-section of such machine, showing my improvement partly in Fig. 1, illustrating the alarm mechanism-in a v thereof, as shown.

second position. Fig. IY represents an en larged vertical cross-sectionof a partiallyloaded shell and the end of the rammer in elevation, illustrating the latter with my improvement attached and in the act of inserting a wad into the shell.

' My improvement isillustrated in the drawings as'applied to wad-ramming mechanism of a shell-loading machine of a construction such as is embodied in my invention shown and described in-Letters Patent No. 639,080,

issued December 12, 1899, and in which a reciprocating slide A is utilized, having .a wad-rammer B secured to the lower end Said rammer and slide are actuated by a cam C, mounted upon an operating-shaft D,=and a helical spring E,

Fig. II. The shells in which the'wads are to gtherammer.

as shown in Fig. III.

be inserted are successively brought under axial bore 1), which may be formed by boring the metal itself or by securingnpon the outer cylindrical surface thereof ashell 5*, as shown in the drawings. The rammer is further provided with a second, bore b,'extending-upwardly from the bottom of bore 1), and with a third bore b extending'from bore I) upwardly throughout the remaining portion of Seated in bore 1) is a is secured a stem b, which project-s upwardly through and beyond the upper end of the rammer, as shown. seated in bore b and causes the plunger to normally project from the ramming-face of the rammer, as shown in Fig. IV, the extent of such projection being limited by a stoppin 1), engaging the upperend of said rammer, as shown in Fig. III.

Upon the upper end portion of the stem 1) is secured a sleeve B by means of a set-screw, whereby the position of such sleeve may be adjusted as desired. Said sleeve is formed or provided with an arm or lug b, which extends forwardly, as shown in Fig.'IV.

-Fulcrumed upon the guide F is a contact lever G, having a contact-arm g and an arm g, extending into the path of the lug b of the sleeve B. Said lever G is further provided with an. upwardly-extending arm g providedwith a notch g. A contact-piece h is secured to said guide in the vicinity of'the end of the contact-army of the lever G, as shown in Fig. I, said piece and arm forming a contact for opening or closing an electrical circuit H, containing a bell J. A spring it is secured upon said guide, Fig. I, and rests in a notch g in the npper end of arm 9 of the contact-lever when the latter is in the open position. When said lever is in the closed position, said spring drops below said notch g and locks the lever in said position,

' lun er 11 to which- P e The rammer- A helical spring .11 is The sleeve 15 is given a position upon the I stem I) such that the distance between the 'lower surface of that portion of the lug b which'engages the lever G and the lower surface of the stop-pin b will be'less than the distance between such engaged lever surface when'said lever is in its open position and the surface of the rammer engaged by said pin when said rammer is in the extreme lowermost position, as shown in Fig. I.

In operation the ram mer descends, with the plunger projecting from its ramming-surface, and inserts a wad into the shell, as shown in Fig. IV, the spring I) being made sufiiciently strong to maintain such projecting position against thefrictional and pneumatic resistance set up by the wad in its insertion. Said wad is pushed downwardly until it strikes the powder which has been previously insorted in the shell, whereupon the plunger yields and is pushed upwardly against the action of spring b Such movement causes the sleeve I) to move upwardly and the lug I)" to escape'engagemeut with the contactleverG should the latter be in its open position, the electrical circuit being thereby left open. Should, however, the charge of powder have been omitted or be deficient, the plunger will remain partially or wholly projecting from the ramming-face when the rammer reaches its lowermost position,'as shown in Fig. III, in which case lug b engages-lever G, closes the circuit, ringing the bell, and thereby giving an alarm indicating a deficient charge of powderin such shell. The spring it looks the contact, and the alarm continues to be sounded until such contact is again opened, such operation necessitating the at tendance of the operator, who may then stop the machine-and remove such deficient shell.

The above-described device may be used, as is readily seen, to indicate the omission of any of the wads which are inserted in the shell or of the charge of shot, its adaptation .to such purpose being effected by changing the length of the rammer and altering the position of the sleeve B.

Other modes of applying. the principle of my invention may' be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means covered by any one of the following claims be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. The combinationofi a. reciprocable wadrammerprovided with a yielding member communicating with the ramming-face, an

electrical circuit provided with acon'tact for opening and closing the circuit, said yielding member adapted to actuate said contact to close said circuit and a lock for looking it in such closed position ,substantially as set forth.

a lever-contact adapted to open or close said circuit and projecting into the path of said rod, whereby the latter may be caused to engage said contact to close said circuit, and a lock for locking same in such-closed position,"

substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a reciprocable'wadrammer provided with ayielding plunger projecting from its ramming-face, a rod passing through the rammer, an electrical circuit, a lever-con tact adapted to open and close said circuit and projecting into the path of saidv rod whereby the latter may be caused to engage said contact to close said circuit, and a spring engaging said lever and adapted tolock same in such closed position, substantially as set forth. Signed by me this 3d day of January, 1900. I o. MJWILLS.

Attest:

D. T. DAvIEs, A. E. MERKEL. 

